how is it december already AND that this year is nearly complete? time travels too quickly! during the holiday season, it is so easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle, shopping and being merry, but please don't forget there is a single reason why we celebrate...Jesus Christ. i hope you all enjoy the season and remember now (and all year long) that Jesus IS the reason for the season. God bless!

despite the extra-specialness of december, here are my goals for the month:
- christmas shopping (i managed to get nearly all mine done yesterday. i only have paul and hannah left!) DONE!
- wrap/ship gifts DONE!
- write/mail cards (after a photo session with my furry baby) DONE!
- decorate (my dad's back/hip is impairing his movement/sleep/etc. so i have no idea when the tree will go up) DONE!
- church @ summit WENT!
- christmas @ summit WENT!
- occf (3-4 days/week) CF Total 12.14: back squat 100lbs, press 55lbs, deadlift 135lbs, total 290lbs. +75lbs than previous max lifts! :)
- massage
- FINALLY finish baby painting! DONE!!
- continue to sort/purge/organize/etc. Working on it...
- re-redo computer room DONE and RE-DONE (my folks didn't like me adding the filing cabinets)
- re-redo bonus room DONE and RE-DONE (fc's in new home w/ a desk from comp room for my dad's space)
- dinner @ second empire tavern (i have a living social voucher, but am in need of a date!) gave it away..no date. :(
- 12.15 occf holiday party @ busy bee WENT!
- job search continues...sunday 12.4 i'll apply for 2 online (NC & VA) and prepare a packet (NC). good news: i've made it to the pre-interview round for a job (NC) and have been invited to do a written evaluation (whoop! whoop!) i had an interview 12.12 in VA...went better than the typical "it went well" response. i should know by next week. but, the search/app process is always in progress.

before the month completely gets away from me, here are my goals for november. :)

- church @ summit (2 for 3 so far; monthly offering DONE)

- occf (3-4 days/week)

- schedule appointments (1 of 3 DONE)

- boyles' anniversary painting (DONE & delivered)

- woffords' baby painting (in progress)

- paintings for christmas gifts

- finish christmas planning/shopping/etc. (almost done)

- pack and store spring/summer clothes/shoes/etc.

- continue to sort/purge/reorganize/pack/etc.

- dentist appt. (DONE)

- follow-up dentist appt. (DONE)

- job hunt continues... (dream job closes 11/25)

no more excuses

source: triangle crossfit

on monday, september 26, i went back to the box. that's what people who crossfit call the gym. i neglected to mention it because i wanted to make sure i was doing it for the right reasons, for me and not anyone else. i've been going for 3 weeks now and i still enjoy it just as much as i did last year, but even more so. last year, when i joined forged, i felt like i was doing it because my sister wanted us to spend more time together. and yes, i wanted to get back in shape but i would've been okay with going to the ymca. plus, i was attracted to a couple boys which made me not want to look stupid. which is stupid. i've never been one to do something for a guy, so why would i have started at age 27? lol. so i stopped. i thought about working out and exercises i could modify to do at home, but i wasn't ready.

i kept making excuses. the #1 excuse? "i don't know how long i'll be in raleigh so why start now?" clearly, my reasoning failed me because i am STILL here. so, when paul & gio (& paige) opened their own affiliate, the excuses could only last so long. this time, i was ready. yes, i know my sister still wanted me to do it so that we could spend more time together and that's certainly a bonus, but that's not why i go. we have yet to be in the same class...

i saw this picture on triangle crossfit's blog tonight and it really hit home. what was i so scared of anyways...feeling good about myself? running farther than the day before? doing more pushups than i could the day before? push pressing 75 lbs? it's progress. mental progress of overcoming just going that first day (i didn't even tell paige i was going just in case i wussed out) and physical progress. my squats are deeper, the ripping of skin doesn't hurt so bad this time, the promise of newer workout gear looms...i already feel better about myself. i find myself standing up straighter and being just plain happier.

so long story short? i drank the kool-aid again and liked it. :) check out oak city crossfit. i like it better than forged: smaller class sizes, more one-on-one attention, people in all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages, and everyone's really nice and encouraging! oh, and while you're there, check out the art! :)

prayers please :)

i have TWO interviews coming up and would surely appreciate any prayers you'd offer up and good vibes you'd be willing to send my way!
- friday 10/7 @ 2:00, telephone interview for an environmental planner/code enforcement officer, western north carolina
- monday 10/10 @ 2:30, sit-down interview for a code enforcement officer/planning technician, south of charlotte (practically south carolina!)

prayers and kind thoughts are appreciated! :) it seems like everything these days is something/code enforcement. it's not an area in which i have site experience, but if that's what it's going to take to get my toe back in the door, then i'm game! plus, each of these jurisdictions are relatively small (one's a college town) so it wouldn't be a lot of territory to cover. wish me luck! :)

october

wofford painting
m/d's anniversary painting
complete asu/assu
begin nb/mirror/storage swivel tower
valentina before 10/15
finish ch's book
read & return lam mag & planning text to my supervisor
adina's in NC!! :D
begin boyles' anniversary painting
redo bonus room while the 'rents are on vacay next week
oak city crossfit (3-4 days/wk)
saturdays @ summit
10 year high school reunion 10/15!!

one of my oldest friends beth anne, also known as blair, pinned this print.
i grew up with winnie and his adventures, but always adored piglet the most.
i had to share.

intentions for september

- church @ summit

- ecu v. south carolina @ charlotte 9/3 :D

- ecu v. virginia tech in greenville 9/10 :D

- complete baby painting

- complete painting for hannah

- complete large art storage unit (asu) project

- complete small art supply storage unit (assu) project

- sort/pack more of what's in bonus room

- goodwill

- finish chelsea handler book

- massage appointment

- look into storage unit rental rates

- apply for jobs....